Knowledge base: guides for your server

Knowledge base

Step-by-step guides to set up and manage your server.

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SparkPanel

Manage everything from your browser

Compare FiveM server hosting (prices checked November 2026)

ServerSpark, 4Netplayers and ZAP-Hosting side by side: price per month, RAM or slots, VAT, and what to look at besides price.

Rust

Compare Rust server hosting (prices checked November 2026)

ServerSpark, KoopjeServer, 4Netplayers, ZAP-Hosting and PebbleHost for 8, 12 and 16 GB: price per month, VAT and billing terms.

Minecraft

Big Minecraft modpacks: when 12 or 16 GB makes sense (2026)

All the Mods, big Create packs and 10+ players: how to judge RAM with spark, pre-generate with Chunky, find lag and pick Minecraft 12 or 16 GB.

Rust

Rust server with 8, 12 or 16 GB: what size for how many players

RAM per player count and map size, why memory grows during a wipe, and how to keep it in check. Rust 12 and 16 GB are billed monthly only.

FiveM

FiveM server with 8 GB for roleplay communities

Resources and streamed assets, OneSync and slots, txAdmin whitelist and restarts, and the MySQL database for QBCore, Qbox or ESX on FiveM 8 GB.

Minecraft

Minecraft server with mods: Fabric, Forge or NeoForge (2026)

Rent a modded Minecraft server: which plan for how many mods, switching loaders in SparkPanel, client-only mods to avoid and syncing mods with friends.

Minecraft

Create mod server: play Create with friends (2026)

Host a Create mod server on NeoForge 1.21.1 or Forge 1.20.1: which plan, setup in SparkPanel, addons, Create modpacks and keeping big factories lag-free.

Minecraft

Make a Minecraft SMP server with friends

Start your own SMP: which plan for how many players, whitelist and anti-griefing in one click, the plugins most SMPs use and running it for months.

VPS

Discord music bot hosting with Lavalink (2026)

Host a Discord music bot 24/7: why Lavalink needs a VPS, what it costs, an honest word on YouTube blocking, and the setup with systemd step by step.

Minecraft

Minecraft server without a subscription

Rent a Minecraft server for one month: nothing charged automatically, pay each invoice yourself with iDEAL or Bancontact, cancel online. From €1.09.

VPS

First steps on a new VPS: SSH keys, firewall and updates

Secure a fresh Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky or AlmaLinux VPS in 15 minutes: SSH key, no password logins, ufw or firewalld, auto updates and the Docker firewall trap.

VPS

Back up your VPS with restic (automatic and encrypted)

A VPS has no backups included. Set up encrypted nightly backups with restic to SFTP or S3 storage, with a systemd timer, retention and a test restore.

VPS

Run a Discord bot 24/7 on a VPS with systemd

Node.js or Python on Ubuntu or Debian, a separate user, a venv, a systemd service that restarts after crashes, and logs with journalctl.

VPS

Game server on a VPS or game hosting? (2026)

Price per game side by side, what game hosting does for you, what a VPS asks of you, and when each one is the better choice.

Discord bots

Discord bot hosting or a VPS? Which one you need (2026)

One bot: bot hosting from €0.69. Several bots, a database server or a dashboard: a VPS. Prices, limits and the work involved side by side.

Discord bots

Discord bot slash commands not showing up? 7 fixes

Unregistered commands, missing applications.commands, a cached list, permissions, name rules and 'The application did not respond' (discord.js, discord.py).

FiveM

How many players on a FiveM server? Slots, OneSync and Element Club

48 players free with OneSync, 64, 128 or 2048 with Element Club (checked 29-10-2026), how to set sv_maxclients, OneSync modes and how much RAM you need.

Rust

Rust server: Oxide or Carbon? Which plugin framework (2026)

Oxide (uMod) and Carbon compared: plugins, performance, in-game menu and folders, and how to switch between them without a wipe.

Garry's Mod

Set up a Garry's Mod TTT server (Trouble in Terrorist Town)

Switch to terrortown, add ttt_ maps from the Workshop, the settings people change most with their defaults, map voting and admin. No CS:S needed anymore.

Garry's Mod

Set up a Garry's Mod DarkRP server

DarkRP from the Workshop, darkrpmodification for your own jobs and settings, which file changes what, admin rights and content downloads for players.

Minecraft

Minecraft game rules explained: keepInventory and more (2026)

The game rules people change most (keep inventory, mob griefing, one player sleeping, PvP) with the new 1.21.11+ names, the old names and the Bedrock names.

Minecraft

Install data packs on a Minecraft server

Where data packs go on a Java server, how to check they loaded with /datapack, and what to know about world generation packs.

Minecraft

Put your singleplayer Minecraft world on a server

Continue your singleplayer world with friends: find and zip it (Java or Bedrock), upload it, and fix inventory, op and whitelist afterwards.

Minecraft

Minecraft server public or private? How to set up both

Whitelist or open to everyone: what fits friends, a class or a community, how to lock it down, and a checklist before you go public.

Minecraft

Minecraft server on your own PC or hosted? (2026)

Open to LAN, a server at home with port forwarding, or hosting: costs including electricity, safety, Java 25 and when each one makes sense.

Discord bots

Discord bot in Python or JavaScript? A beginner's choice (2026)

discord.py or discord.js for your first bot: the same /ping bot in both, what each is good at, versions and what it costs to host.

Minecraft

Multiple worlds on one Minecraft server (Multiverse)

Add a creative, flat or minigame world next to survival with Multiverse-Core 5: create, teleport, import, separate inventories and remove.

Minecraft

Undo griefing on your Minecraft server with CoreProtect

Find out who broke what, roll back blocks and chests with one command, undo a rollback, and when you need a backup instead.

Minecraft Bedrock

Add-ons on a Minecraft Bedrock server

Get behavior and resource packs on your Bedrock Dedicated Server: the easy way via an exported world, the manual way with world_behavior_packs.json, and fixes.

Discord bots

Discord bot token leaked? Reset it and keep it safe

What to do in 5 minutes when your bot token leaks, how to keep it out of Git with .env and .gitignore, and where tokens usually leak.

Minecraft

Cheap Minecraft server in the Netherlands or Belgium (2026)

What a Minecraft server for friends costs in the Netherlands and Belgium, where it runs, paying with iDEAL or Bancontact, and what to check before you order.

Minecraft Bedrock

Minecraft server on Switch, Xbox or PlayStation: how friends join (2026)

Consoles can't add your own server directly. The ways that work for Switch, Xbox and PlayStation players, and which server to pick.

Minecraft

Proximity voice chat on your Minecraft server (Simple Voice Chat)

Add Simple Voice Chat to your Paper, Fabric, Forge or NeoForge server: the plugin, the extra UDP port and what every player installs.

Minecraft

Friends on a different Minecraft version? Use ViaVersion

Fix 'outdated client' and 'outdated server' errors: let players on newer or older Minecraft versions join with ViaVersion and ViaBackwards.

Discord bots

Replit, Render or Railway for a Discord bot? A 24/7 alternative (2026)

What the free and cheap plans of Replit, Render and Railway do with an always-on Discord bot (checked 28 October 2026), and how to move your bot in 15 minutes.

Discord bots

Discord bot offline? 8 causes and how to fix them

Why a discord.js or discord.py bot goes offline or stops answering (token, intents, crashes, memory, sleeping hosts) and how to keep it online 24/7.

Minecraft

Minecraft server for a birthday party or sleepover

A safe server for one party: which version, child-safe in one click, adding names, ideas and what it costs.

Minecraft

Aternos vs Minehut vs your own server

Free Minecraft hosting compared honestly with your own server: memory, always on, queues, mods and backups.

Minecraft

Update your Minecraft server to a new version

Update Java and Bedrock in SparkPanel without losing your world, and what to do with plugins and mods.

Minecraft

The best plugins for a small Minecraft server

Nine plugins for a complete, safe server: basic commands, permissions, anti-griefing, building, performance and Discord.

Minecraft

Minecraft server IP and port: sharing your address

Where to find your server address, how friends join on Java and Bedrock, using your own domain and what to do when joining fails.

Discord bots

Make a Discord bot with JavaScript (discord.js)

Build your first Discord bot with a slash command in discord.js and put it online 24/7.

Discord bots

Make a Discord bot in Python (step by step)

Build your first Discord bot with a slash command in Python and put it online 24/7.

Minecraft

Minecraft server for kids: play safely together

A server only your child's friends can join: how to set it up safely as a parent.

Minecraft Bedrock

Set up your Minecraft Bedrock server

Joining, the allow list, operators, your own world and updating to a new version.

Minecraft

Manage your Minecraft server: whitelist, op and bans

Decide who can join, make admins and remove players, with the commands you actually need.

Discord bots

Free vs paid Discord bot hosting (2026)

What free bot hosting does and doesn't give you, what paid hosting costs, and how much memory your bot needs.

Minecraft

How much does a Minecraft server cost? (2026)

Every ServerSpark Minecraft price per month, quarter and year, what the welcome discount does, extras and how to avoid surprises.

Minecraft

Minecraft Realms vs your own server (2026)

Realms, Realms Plus and Realms for Java compared with your own server: price, players, mods, devices and payment.

Minecraft

Compare Minecraft server hosting (2026)

Minecraft host prices side by side, honestly, and what to look at besides price.

Minecraft

Set up a Minecraft server with friends

From ordering to playing together in five steps: choose a plan, share the address and let your friends join, on Java or Bedrock.

Minecraft

Install Minecraft plugins

Add plugins to your Paper server through the panel.

FiveM

FiveM license key: get it from the Cfx.re portal (Keymaster)

Request your free FiveM license key in the Cfx.re portal, the old Keymaster, and enter it in your server panel.

Discord bots

Run your Discord bot 24/7

Upload and start your Node.js or Python Discord bot and keep it online 24/7, with automatic package installs and restarts.

Minecraft

How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

Pick the right plan for your players, plugins and modpacks.

Minecraft

Fix Minecraft server lag

Find the cause with TPS and spark, and fix the most common problems.

Rust

Rust server: plugins and wipes

Install Oxide or Carbon plugins and wipe your map and blueprints.

Valheim

Set up your Valheim server

Name, password, crossplay and uploading your own world.

Project Zomboid

Set up your Project Zomboid server

Admin account, server settings and Steam Workshop mods.

FiveM

FiveM server with txAdmin, QBCore or ESX

From a fresh server to a running roleplay server, database included.

Hytale

Set up your Hytale server

Link your Hytale account, join and the most useful settings.

Terraria

Set up your Terraria server

World size and difficulty, a password and your own world.

Garry's Mod

Set up your Garry's Mod server

Set up your Garry's Mod server step by step: gamemode, map, Workshop addons and a Steam token.

Minecraft

server.properties explained: every Minecraft setting

What each important setting does, like whitelist, view-distance and game mode, and which values work well.

Minecraft

From Aternos to your own server: move your world

Take your Minecraft world from a free host to a server that is always on.

Minecraft

Minecraft server for a school or club

A safe server for your class, club or youth group: whitelist, rules and supervision.

Minecraft

Make a Cobblemon server (Pokémon in Minecraft)

Install the official Cobblemon modpack and play it with your friends.

Minecraft

Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge: which one?

The difference between the mod loaders, and when Paper with plugins is the better pick.

Minecraft

Make a Minecraft modpack server

Install a Modrinth modpack yourself in SparkPanel and play it with friends.

Minecraft

Let Bedrock players join with Geyser

Phone, console and Windows players on your Java server, on every plan.

Minecraft

Managing your server in SparkPanel

Files, backups, schedules, game settings and databases in one place.

Minecraft

Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur: which server software?

The difference between Spigot, Paper and Purpur, which one to pick for plugins, and what ServerSpark runs.

Project Zomboid

Best Project Zomboid mods for multiplayer

Popular map, vehicle and quality-of-life mods for co-op, and how to install Workshop mods on your server.

Discord bots

Discord bot with a database (SQLite) and buttons

A working example in discord.js and discord.py: store data in SQLite and let users click buttons.

Discord bots

Discord bot hosting vs a Raspberry Pi at home

An honest comparison of costs, uptime and effort: when a Pi makes sense and when bot hosting does.

Minecraft

New in ServerSpark: October 2026

A new look for the website, portal and SparkPanel, clearer unpaid orders, four new guides and what is still running.

FiveM

FiveM server: first steps after setup

Server name and icon, admins, a whitelist in txAdmin, and adding scripts and add-on cars to your FiveM server.

Rust

Rust server settings for a small group

No decay, PvE, a smaller map and time-saving plugins: make Rust fun for 2 to 10 players.

Minecraft Bedrock

Minecraft Java or Bedrock: which server do you need?

How to tell which version you play, the differences that matter, and what to pick when your friends play both.

Hytale

Hytale server mods: install, check and fix

Where Hytale mods go on your server, how to see they loaded, early plugins, and what to do when a mod stops your server.

Minecraft

Minecraft server crashed? Find and fix the cause

Where to find the crash report, and how to fix the six most common causes: Java version, memory, client mods, missing mods, plugins and broken worlds.

Minecraft